There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 289

“The Silk Road, are you referring to that?”

Kim Jong-seo blinked.

“Yes. Haven’t you heard of it? The trade route that once connected China to the West by land.”

‘Kim Jong-seo was originally a civil official, so I thought he would be well-versed in this kind of history, but is this the first time he’s hearing about it?’

I couldn’t hide my disappointment anymore.

However, Kim Jong-seo then spoke as if he understood.

“Isn’t that the route that Zhang Qian [a Chinese diplomat and explorer] was sent on by the Han Dynasty to pioneer? I heard that it was completely cut off after the fall of the Yuan Dynasty and has not regained its former glory.”

‘What, he knows about it?’

It would be strange if he didn’t know, considering that the Yuan Dynasty, a world empire, existed just a generation ago.

However, there was also a reason why Kim Jong-seo didn’t recognize it.

“But I’ve never heard the name Silk Road before. Since it’s a road where silk travels, the name Silk Road would be appropriate, but…”

‘Huh? Is this not a commonly used name?’

Now I smacked my head.

I thought that the name Silk Road was famous even in modern times and had been used since that era, but that wasn’t the case.

In fact, the name Silk Road (Seidenstrassen) only appeared in the 19th century.

However, instead of making excuses, I decided to brazenly push forward.

“I came up with the name, so I’m glad you like it.”

“It seems more like it will become the ‘Leather Road’ rather than the ‘Silk Road’.”

Even though the Age of Exploration was already well underway, land trade was not something to be taken lightly.

Although it was facing a decline due to the political turmoil in each trade route that occurred simultaneously, that turmoil was gradually coming to an end.

Even in the original history, as the Age of Exploration opened, the proportion of sea routes became overwhelmingly large, but the amount of trade itself through land routes steadily rebounded afterward.

No matter how high the cost and risk of land trade compared to sea trade, the Central Asian countries had no other choice.

‘The problem is still the Ming Dynasty.’

If the Yongle Emperor [the third emperor of the Ming dynasty], who is beating the Mongols like a madman, notices the Silk Road, wouldn’t he be displeased?

No matter how much Joo So-hwa is there, the Joseon people wanted to avoid the emperor’s wrath as much as possible.

Isn’t the situation where trading with the Taining and Fuyu Guards is glossed over as ‘the border people doing it on their own’?

In many ways, the risk was great.

However, isn’t this an opportunity to seize control of the revived inland trade route and grab the lifeline of the Taining and Fuyu Guards in the middle?

‘It would be good to give something to the Jurchens at this opportunity as well.’

They are already actively engaged in piracy and trading along the East Sea coast, but it would be good if they could become even more closely attached to Joseon through vested interests.

Lee Ri-buka, Joseon’s Jurchen straw [a person used as an intermediary or front man], also seemed to be subtly expecting it.

‘Above all, there is a hit product that is easy to transport.’

===

Although we are reopening the Silk Road, it does not mean that China will revive the old Silk Road that was in charge of the eastern trade route.

Instead of going through Ming, we have to open a new road from Joseon to Bukgye [Northern Frontier], and then through Taining and Fuyu Guards adjacent to Bukgye, to the grasslands.

Of course, officially, we have to insist that we don’t know anything about it.

‘Then should we put the Jurchens forward as the figureheads?’

The picture is roughly drawn.

If we launch a merchant group consisting of Jurchens to share the vested interests, it will be easier for the Joseon court to deny it later.

Of course, we can’t give it all to Mente-mu, and it’s a matter of course to give a share to other Jurchen influential figures, including Lee Ri-buka.

There was also a reason to distribute the vested interests fairly, but it was to lay the groundwork so that Mente-mu could not monopolize it.

I called the Jurchens serving in the Royal Guards to discuss the issue.

Surprisingly, there are many Jurchens in the Royal Guards.

This is because the descendants of the Jurchen chieftains who were brought in a long time ago are serving.

Lee Seong-gye used to take Jurchen bodyguards with him when he was a general, so this is also a tradition.

After the conquest of Tsushima Island, even Japanese descendants came to the capital and were incorporated into the Royal Guards.

Both of them are not inferior in personal combat skills, so I can rest assured even if I entrust my protection to them.

Anyway, for that reason, I called the Jurchens of the Royal Guards and sounded out their opinions.

‘Even if their fathers are in charge of local official positions now, these guys will eventually inherit them.’

No, if we start working on it before that, these people will be in charge of the practical affairs with Joseon.

Isn’t that why I’ve been trying to foster pro-Joseon factions?

However, the answer that came back was truly shocking.

“Even if you suddenly tell us, we don’t know much about it. We’re not very interested in family matters…”

The Royal Guards exchanged glances for a moment, then scratched their heads and said.

‘What are you talking about?’

If you guys don’t know, who will?

“You’re going back to the North anyway, aren’t you? You should figure out the framework in advance.”

“Yes? Why are we going back?”

“?”

I looked at the Royal Guards with a puzzled expression, but they also didn’t understand the meaning of my words at all.

I asked, trembling my finger.

“You… you’re not going home?”

“Your Majesty, where is there a better place to live than Hanyang [the capital of Joseon]? Why would we go back to that rural village?”

I felt like I had been hit hard on the head.

No, that’s your hometown.

If you’re not going home, then what are you going to do?

“Isn’t the place you’re attached to your hometown?”

“In Hanyang, there’s Chogye [a type of Korean sweet], cartoons, and you can go see Gyeokgu [a traditional Korean sport similar to polo] every holiday, but if you go back to that flea-infested neighborhood, you won’t last a day, really.”

I stared at the Royal Guards who were groaning.

‘I knew it, these guys didn’t go home even during their vacations.’

The eldest sons are not thinking of going home and are trying to take root here.

‘Then there’s no point in holding you hostage!’

Why would I ask the tribal chiefs to hand over their eldest sons?

I was trying to educate the successors from a young age to make them pro-Joseon, and I was also trying to find them Joseon wives to mix Joseon blood at the same time.

“My wife doesn’t like it either, and there are education problems for my children, so it’s not good to go back to the North.”

Looking at the way things are going, it seems like it was too successful.

“Surely, the guys from Tsushima Island are thinking the same way?”

“They’re not here, but they probably are. Frankly, there’s nothing in that rural Tsushima Island, is there?”

As soon as I heard those words, I짚었다 my forehead [짚었다 is Korean word, meaning ‘pointed’].

‘Assimilation was too successful, damn it.’

Even if they inherit local official positions, they will live with ignorant people in the countryside for the rest of their lives, so I was dumbfounded by the mindset of just scratching their bellies and living in Hanyang.

The Royal Guards smiled shyly and said.

“We’d rather be the tail of a dragon than the head of a chicken, Your Majesty.”

“Even if we starve to death, we have to set foot inside the four gates of Hanyang.”

I grabbed the back of my neck as I looked at the Royal Guards who answered so calmly.

‘Minister of War, where’s the Minister of War?’

I’m going to send these guys to the North!

I sighed, looking for the Minister of War who was not there.

===

It was a little later that Bulno arrived in Hanyang with Mente-mu’s letter.

I had already received Lee Ri-buka’s letter, which had arrived through the bitter cold, so I roughly understood the situation, but it was still different to hear the story directly from Bulno, who was well-versed in the public sentiment of the North.

When I heard that he was staying at Grand Prince Hyoryeong’s house because of the donation issue, I immediately summoned Bulno.

“I didn’t expect Your Majesty to call me directly.”

“These days, there are fewer guys who object to my words. Even if I bring a monk into the palace, no one says anything.

So, you brought Mente-mu’s letter?”

It’s obvious that Bulno ghostwrote Mente-mu’s writing.

There’s no need to read it when he’s right in front of me.

“Meng Ge Temuer (Mente-mu) is an ambitious hero, but he is not thinking of defying Joseon. After returning from Japan, he has become even more cautious.”

That’s natural.

What did Mente-mu see when he went to the Ouchi family as a mercenary?

The firearms that Joseon exports to Ouchi, the vast amount of silver mined endlessly from Iwami, and the ships that carry them and the influence of Joseon that extends far into the sea.

He must have realized that no matter how much he builds up his strength, he will only be subjugated and killed the moment he opposes Joseon.

It is wise to quickly realize this and stick to Joseon to aim for something bigger.

If Mente-mu and the Jurchens think so, I am willing to repay them.

“I plan to build a Biak factory in Hamheung.”

Anyway, constant factory expansion is essential to secure the quantity.

Until now, I have been establishing Biak factories in the Gyeonggi area close to Byeokrando for easy maritime exports, but if the Silk Road reopens, it would be better to build one in Hamheung as well.

‘This is also necessary for balanced regional development.’

I remembered Lee Seong-gye’s request to take care of his hometown.

Even if it’s not for that, it’s good for my support base, the Northeast, to continue to develop.

It is also easy to find local factory partners, including the Yeongheung Choi clan, Lee Seong-gye’s maternal relatives.

The only concern is the outflow of technology to the North…

‘By the time the Jurchens synthesize nitroglycerin, Joseon will already be launching rockets, right?’

I don’t think I need to worry about that.

Bulno was delighted to hear that I was going to build a Biak factory in Hamheung.

It would be more welcome for Bukgye to have Biak pouring out of nearby Hamheung.

“If you transport it from Hanyang, there will be mountains in the middle, so it will take a long time to reach Hamheung. It’s natural to connect to Waja (Oirat) far away, or even further.”

The most important thing is a stable trade route.

It would be very difficult if the delivery was lost in the middle like the Okcheon hub.

In this era, there are many robbers trying to steal parcels, and especially in the grasslands, even the princes and dukes are wielding swords, so you have to be even more careful.

I want to build a safe trade route at least to Mongolia.

“Then I will convey Your Majesty’s will to Odoli Manho.”

That was not a problem for Bulno, who came to deliver the message, so he got up from his seat with a comfortable face.

“Ah, I’ll attach an escort when you go back to the North, so take them with you.”

“I am grateful for Your Majesty’s words, but I don’t need an escort…”

No, I need it.

I’m going to attach all the guys who were caught trying to settle in Hanyang as escorts.

In name, they are escorts, but I will not bring them back to Hanyang.

‘If you’ve studied abroad, you should think about going back to your hometown and serving. How can you just eat and live well on your own?’

These selfish guys.

I’ll send your wives and children later.

I decided to add one more person here.

“There is a child named Ji-un, the son of Gi-mae, a concubine of the Nosang King. Take that child with you too.”

Bulno asked, puzzled by my words.

“Why are you telling me to take the son of a concubine?”

“That’s actually… your younger brother.”

“…”

Gi-mae’s conduct was not very good from the beginning, so it seems that Nosang King was not sure whether he was his son or not.

Still, he was living with him for the time being, but with Gi-mae caught in adultery and kicked out, public opinion arose that he could not be kept in the palace any longer.

I was still looking at Lee Bang-gwa’s eyes and leaving him alone, but I couldn’t do that forever.

‘His head is exactly like the people in our family.’

I feel sorry for him, but I can’t help it.

Bulno used to go in and out of the capital in the old days and was once beaten for claiming to be the son of Nosang King, so there is no guarantee that Ji-un will not do that.

There is a 99% chance that he will be involved in various troubles later.

It would be better for him to go to the far North early on, cut ties with the royal family, and live his life.

“Oh, is this how worldly relationships come back?”

Bulno sighed.

He was once denied being the son of Lee Bang-gwa because he was treated as a nuclear reactor, so he must feel a sense of camaraderie.

Bulno, who had been quietly rubbing his wooden fish like a high priest, glanced at me and said.

“However, Your Majesty, I am currently building a temple in the North…”

“It is natural for the people of Bukgye to practice Buddhism as well. As your king, I will donate heavily.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. I will take Ji-un and raise him well as a disciple of the Buddha.”

Even a monk needs money to build a temple.

You’re working hard, Bulno.

I see the value in the mental education I gave you.